Climate Change

What's This About?

Although the waste management sector is responsible for only 6% of Ontario's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, it still has a key role to play in addressing climate change. Diverting more waste to recycling, compost and biogas facilities can substantially cut GHG emissions not only from disposal, but also from the extraction of resources. The more we can use resources recovered out of the waste stream, such as metals used in TVs, cell phones and computers, the more we can lessen our impact on the environment. The United States Environmental Protection Agency highlighted that about 42% of all GHG emissions are associated with the energy used to produce, process, transport, and dispose of the food we eat and the goods we use. Clearly, there are big opportunities to lower emissions by changing the way we manage the waste we produce.

Our Goal

To work with the provincial government to develop programs and policies that will incentivize activities in the waste management sector to reduce GHG emissions, including the development and expansion of landfill-gas-capture systems, renewable natural gas projects and recycling facilities.

Our Progress

The OWMA continues to work with the government to ensure that new climate policies related to the waste management sector are designed in a way to achieve meaningful emissions reductions.

We have provided comments on the adaptation of an offset protocol for landfill-gas destruction and will continue to play an active role in the development of additional offset protocols for organics diversion.

Our priorities are to minimize the red tape associated with offset registration and compliance; maintain a level-playing field between Ontario companies offering offset credits and businesses in other jurisdictions with fewer compliance and regulatory costs; and align offset and energy policies for waste management companies, such as Anaerobic Digestion facilities, which require access to renewable energy markets.

The OWMA's submission on the provincial government's Landfill Gas Offset Protocol highlights the association's concerns with the protocol's eligibility requirements for landfill-gas capture projects, incentives for beneficial use and regional differences under the Western Climate Initiative.